Erasmus experience in Manchester, United Kingdom by Mary

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Why did you choose to go to Manchester, United Kingdom?

It was one of the places that I was offered and one of the best known cities in England for its two big football teams.

How long was your scholarship? How much money did you receive?

The scholarship was for 12 months but I only received help for five months of that period, the rest I had to fund myself.

The money that you receive depends on your income, your language level and the autonomous community to which you belong, these are the three types of grants that exist in my case. In the case of England, the Erasmus grant is 300 euros and 100 euros more if your level of English (or whatever other language you are learning) is a B2. The grant ministry gives is of 300 euros to all of the Erasmus students and 100 more if you are a scholar at the university. The problem with these two grants is that the retrieval of one means that you cannot have the other, but they are both pretty much the same. Also, in my case, we have the grant from the Junta de Andalusia, which offers 300 euros and up to 100 euros more, depending on your income. These amounts would be given every month, for the first five months. All the money is paid in two payments 70% of the Erasmus scholarship or the ministry at the beginning of the stay and the remaining 30% on the return. 60% in the case of the scholarship of the Board and 40% on your return.

Like I said it is a bit of a help but you should not go thinking that it will cover all of your stay there, you will need a little more money to cover your costs.

Soruce

What is the student life like in Manchester?

The student atmosphere is cool. There are lots of young people and students, people of all cultures and lots of events that are specifically for each one of said cultures. Also, they are a good way of meeting new people. If you go to the events/parties/organised trips... you will never be alone.

Would you recommend the city and the university of Manchester to other students?

In my case, I am not at the University of Manchester (but in Salford) so I can't really say, although my friends seem happy there.

In terms of the city, it is not the prettiest as it is quite industrial, but you will fall in love with it. The city is relatively small, there are numerous parks and things to visit if you want to do something a bit touristy. During the Christmas period, the city is completely lit up and this makes it a lot prettier. Also, there is a massive shopping centre on the outskirts.

What is the food like in England?

There is a variety of food but it does not taste the same. There are many different types of vegetables and fruits, but none of them taste the same. There is a lot of prepared food there because a lot of people eat outside their work.

I recommend shopping at Tesco, Aldi and Lidl to find Spanish products and they are also relatively cheap.

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Was it difficult finding accommodation in Manchester?

It depends when you start looking, it can be very easy or a complete nightmare. If you are going in the first semester, it would be sensible if you start looking during the summer. Be very careful about paying the rent of a house without seeing it first. Often the house is very different to what it looks like in photos and sometimes the house doesn't even exist. I recommend spending your first few days in a hotel or hostel and organising appointments to view the houses. Another option would be the halls of residence, where, although they are more expensive, it will save you a lot of hassle and they also include security, a gym, library, repairs (if something is damaged) and they are usually near to the universities.

How much does it cost to live in Manchester?

It depends on your rent, if you use public transport a lot or not, and the amount of parties you go to as they can be quite a lot. In my case, including rent, transport, food and parties, I spend around 650 pounds.

What about the language? Did you go to a language course at the university?

I have not been to any English courses and my level is a B1. At the start I found it difficult because the Northern accent is difficult to understand and if you take into account that it is a very multicultural city, there are many different respective accents... but within two or three weeks you start to understand nearly everything. Although everyone recommends not joining up with other Spanish people, as it is true that it is not going to help with your English, but in my case with 12 and a half hours a day in the hospital speaking in English, it was enough for me. It depends on your level of English and the amount of hours that you dedicate to university or your internship whilst you are there.

What is the most economical way for you to travel to Manchester from your city?

By plane.

Which places do you recommend for parting in Manchester?

• Tigertiger
• La tasca
• Revolution
• Sinclair

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What about cultural visits?

• Sports museum
• Cathedral
• St John Library
• Town hall
• Old Trafford shopping centre
• Art museum
• Central library
• China Town